, the hardworking men and women who play vital roles supporting our farmers, innovating for our technology companies, creating businesses on their own all of them, our nation relies on immigrants. we have to find a way through the partisan gridlock to enact meaningful change to immigration laws, and that should include a path to citizenship. tackling this complex issue let's get away from partisan symbolism. let's uphold the fundamental values of family, hard work, and fairness. so next month we are going to begin this national discussion, the full judiciary committee, with public hearings. i know i'm going to hear a lot of different views on this, but i hope in the end we can honor those who came before us from distant lands in search of freedom and opportunity. i wonder with the attitude of some today if when my grandparents came to vermont from italy, whether they would have been allowed to become citizens, or my great grandparents when they came from ireland to vermont, whether they would have been allowed to become citizens. or my wife's parents when he they came to vermont from canada whether